February 23rd – Sebastopol, CA – In 2016, Sonoma County Winegrowers established a new award to recognize producers/makers who are leaders in sustainability and exemplify the environmental, economic, and social equity stewardship that is at the foundation of Sonoma County’s World Class Winegrowing Region.
For 2023, Sonoma County Winegrowers is proud to honor Ron Rubin and River Road Family Vineyards and Winery as the Sustainable Producer of the Year.
Ron Rubin dreamed about owning his own winery while studying viticulture and enology at University of California, Davis in the 1970s, and his dream came true when he opened River Road Family Vineyards and Winery in2011. His ownership and involvement in the Sonoma County wine industry has reinforced the importance of sustainability, not only to the environment, but including the people who work the land.
Ron and the team at River Road Family Vineyards and Winery have a holistic approach to winegrowing which includes placing owl boxes around vineyards for pest management, planting cover crops to cultivate nutrient rich soil, conservation tillage, utilizing drought tolerant insect friendly landscape, water use monitoring to ensure water conservation, and solar energy. River Road Family Vineyards and Winery is a certified B Corp, which is a designation given to businesses who meet high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials.
In 2016, due to his innovative spirit, Ron Rubin was honored by North Bay Business Journal, when he received their 2016 Innovator of the Year Award.
In 2017, Ron Rubin began the River Road Family Vineyards and Winery Trained for “Saving Lives” program. In collaboration with the American Red Cross and ZOLL Medical Corporation, River Road Family Vineyards and Winery covered the cost of one ZOLL AED PLUS (Automated External Defibrillator) unit for hundreds of qualifying California wineries. This sustainability and safety plan is designed to keep visitors to California’s wine country safe, should the need arise.
Ron Rubin is an active Board Member of the Sonoma County Fundación de la Voz de los Viñedos, investing his time and resources. This foundation supports local vineyard employees and their families, and organizes an annual Leadership Academy, which provides leadership training and workforce development to vineyard employees. The Academy participants graduate from the program with new skills and awareness about the beneficial resources and services available to them within the community.
Rubin’s stewardship does not end in the vineyard and winery. He believes in giving back to the Sonoma County community and supporting the work of local non-profits such as Food for Thought, School Garden Network, American Cancer Society’s Sebastopol Relay for Life, and he serves on the Sonoma State University School of Business & Economics Board. He is also the owner of The Republic of Tea, which is a member of the Ethical Tea Partnership and is dedicated to developing products to support worthy organizations, including the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and the Whole Planet Foundation.
Sonoma County Winegrowers is honored to present Ron Rubin and River Road Family Vineyards and Winery with the prestigious 2023 Sustainable Producer Award. We thank Ron and the team at the winery for their commitment to sustainable business and making our community a better place to live and work.
